Yes, it's that time again--the holidays are just around the corner again. No matter what you gave last year, why not consider giving something really helpful this year?
Have you ever given or thought about giving books as holiday gifts?
Instead of giving your teenagers mindless video games which have been proven to have dangerous effects or even movie DVDs which involve passive watching to turn the brain to jello, why not give the gift of reading? Yes, give them a good book to read. They may not get as excited about it at first, but they'll thank you in the future.
You can also give the gift of reading to those adults on your list. Instead of giving uncle Joe a tie or pair of socks of which he probably has enough already, why not give him an exciting adult novel or interesting non-fiction book to read?
You can even give the gift of reading to children. Instead of a toy of doll which will be broken in a few weeks give them children's books which they can read again and again and cherish forever.
With all our fancy devices (iPods, Xboxes, blackberries, Nintendo's, DVD's etc.) How many us take the time these days to curl up with a good book? How many books have your read lately? How many do you think your friends or family have read? Maybe it's time to revive the art before it's too late.
David Ulin, former book review editor of the Los Angeles Times, discusses the act of reading and its place in our information overloaded age in his book "The Lost Art of Reading: Why Books Matter in a Distracted Time.".
Although you could give the above-mentioned book, or one like it, or even the one pictured above ,-- although an excellent suggestion for parents and caregivers -- these are here mainly to support my thesis and plea: Give the gift of reading this year! So, I'll put it like this: not considering the one mentioned above, my serious gift book Suggestions begin with the next one (below).
MY first choice for anyone from pre-teen through adult would be my unique historical, Biblical novel "Of Such Is The Kingdom." It makes an excellent Christmas gift, especially since Chapter 3 is a flashback to the coming of the Magi and the slaughter of the innocents. Thus, it makes a great after-Christmas, pre-3Kings day read or is even a good read after 3Kings' Day. . If given by Christmas or shortly thereafter, they have family and friends over for the holidays, they may leave it under the tree till after New Years, but then, they're bound to pick it up and start reading, even if just for curiosity, and they're sure to finish Chapter 3 by the next Holiday of the season, 3 Kings Day (January 6th.) Do you see how appropriate that would be? Then, if they are a fairly slow reader, they may finish Part II, which ends with the crucifixion, by Good Friday (again quite appropriate). Of course, it's possible they may finish Part II a little before Good Friday, but if so they'll appreciate that holiday more. I seriously doubt that they will finish Part II after Good Friday.
My 2nd choice would be the Christmas gift edition of my American historical fiction novel, "The Christmas Victory." I would recommend this book, even if I hadn't written it, for any reader, but especially for anyone who has suffered a loss of any kind, particularly a tragic loss of a loved one. It can serve as a means of encouragement and hope to such, or to all of us, who might happen to do so in the future
The full-color gift edition of this powerful American historical fiction novel, with red ribbons at every heading and 16 beautiful relevant pictures at important points throughout, makes a great Christmas gift to give.
Look for these titles in the AD signed bookstore.
